It’s that time of year again – dry January. The health and wellness trend offers a way to reset, relax and rejuvenate for the year ahead by completely cutting out alcohol for the first month of the year.
If you’re planning to participate in a dry (or damp, where you drink less alcohol than normal) month this year, you don’t have to give up sipping on a fun drink. Instead, try these mocktails around Charlotte for all of the good times without any of the hangovers.
Napa Restaurants [scoop sponsor]
Providence Rd in Myers Park, Fort Mill and now in Stonecrest
Enjoy a variety of spirit-free beverages at the Napa Restaurants. We love the California Dreamin’ with blood orange purée, rich simple syrup, basil, lemon lime soda and soda water. Or, go for the Winter Moon with pear nectar, cinnamon-pear syrup, lime juice and ginger beer.
Plus, for the month of January only Napa is featuring Curious Elixers on some special mocktails. Sip on a non-alcoholic spicy pineapple margarita, blood orange spritz, coconut pineapple painkiller, or sparkling rosé cocktail.
Reid’s Fine Foods [scoop sponsor]
4331 Barclay Downs Dr
There’s a mocktail for everyone at Reid’s this dry January. Sip on the Kissed by Caramel, made with apple cider, caramel syrup and freshly squeezed lemon juice, or the Essence of Hydration with coconut water, cranberry juice, honey sweetener, cherry extract and freshly squeezed lime juice for a sweet cocktail.
Other options include the Pomegranate Paradise with pomegranate juice, pink grapefruit juice, freshly squeezed lime juice and Fever Tree Grapefruit Soda, as well as the Sparkling Sangria with grape juice, apple cider, orange juice, freshly squeezed lemon juice, freshly sliced orange, freshly sliced apple, whole cloves, cinnamon sticks and topped with soda. Yum!
NoDa & Optimist Park
Haberdish
3106 N Davidson St
Haberdish has two spirit free cocktails on the menu – the California Sober and the Boy’s Club. While the Boy’s Club is completely substance free with cheerwine reduction, baking spices, whisky-barrel smoked black pepper, orange juice and soda, the California Sober contains CBD. So, if you’re alcohol-free but still looking for a little buzz, that drink or Haberdish’s two cannabis cocktails with THC are great options.
Substrate
512 E 15th St
For a unique non-alcoholic option head to Substrate, a new wine-centric spot located in NoDa. Inside, bartenders pour Villbrygg and Pathfinder (amaro) by the glass for those who are opting for alcohol-free drinks during their outing.
Billy Sunday
1115 N Brevard St, Unit 1
Billy Sunday is a mocktail lover’s dream, as the Optimist Hall bar will be offering a mocktail happy hour Monday through Thursday, from 5PM until 7PM. During this window, mocktails such as the spirit-free Nice Pear, Orange Chai Glad, Donut Forget About Me, Later Mater and more will be half off!
Spindle Bar
1115 N Brevard St
The Spindle Bar, also located in Optimist Hall, offers a selection of non-alcoholic beverages to pair with your food hall meal. Enjoy a spirit-free margarita, a Flower Child, made with elderflower, grapefruit and verjus, a Maleficent Fairy made with passion fruit and Thai chilis, and other mocktail options.
Plaza Midwood & Elizabeth
Rosemont
1942 E 7th St #107
Enjoy a refreshing spirit-free spritz at Rosemont. The wine bar and restaurant offers an alcohol-free orange spritz and lemon elderflower spritz, both made with N/A sparkling wine. For something that feels a bit more traditional, opt for the non-alcoholic sparkling white wine on its own, or go for the phony negroni.
Supperland
1212 The Plaza
Dining at Supperland feels like a special occasion, so you can’t leave without trying a cocktail – or in this case, a mocktail. The Italian spritz above is made with N/A Italian spritz liquor, N/A sparkling wine, soda water, acid phosphate and orange slices. If spritz drinks aren’t your thing, try the spirit-free gin and tonic, or the “At the Beach” mocktail with N/A amaro, pineapple juice, ginger syrup and muddled lime wedges.
The Crunkleton
1957 E 7th St
The Crunkleton features four non-alcoholic mocktails on the menu year round. Next time you’re in, try the N/A Sour, the phony negroni, the painless killer with fresh pineapple, coconut cream, lime juice, orange juice and syrup, or the N/A agave tiki tai with N/A agave blanco, orgeat and lime.
Moo & Brew
1300 Central Ave
Fans of the traditional Moscow Mule beverage will love the Mocktail Mule at Moo & Brew this dry January. The mocktail, which even comes in a traditional copper Moscow Mule mug garnished with fresh lime and orange, pairs perfectly with the restaurant’s burgers and fries.
SouthPark
Paco’s Tacos and Tequila
6401 Carnegie Blvd, #8A
You don’t have to miss out on grabbing a fun beverage with your tacos at Paco’s. The Mexican restaurant offers mocktails to pair with your meal including the Smoke Screen with Cut Above Zero Proof Mezcal, lemon juice and agave nectar, the Nada Paloma with Cut Above Zero Proof Agave Blanco, grapefruit juice, lime juice, agave nectar and Topo Chico, and the Queen City Fruit Punch with orange juice, pineapple juice, lemon juice, desert pear syrup, grenadine, Topo Chico.
Wesley Heights
Restaurant Constance
2200 Thrift Rd
Restaurant Constance is a dry January or full-time non-alcohol drinker’s dream. The extensive non-alcoholic menu features an innovative selection of house-made cocktails crafted with locally sourced ingredients featuring spirit-free alternatives, plus non-alcoholic wines and beers.
From sweet mocktails such as the Back on 74 with Ritual Tequila alternative, persimmon, grapefruit and fennel to the espresso martini lovers’ mocktail Running on Empty, made with Ritual Rum alternative, espresso and oat milk, Restaurant Constance has it all.
South End
Resident Culture
332 W Bland St, Suite C (South End)
2101 Central Ave (Plaza Midwood)
The non-alcoholic menu at Resident Culture offers a creative range of CBD/THC sparkling waters and N/A brews — not to mention, both lines of drinks are award-winning. The N.A.R.C. line of non-alcoholic beer includes a Mexican-style lager called N.A.R.C. Lime & Sea Salt, a West Coast IPA called N.A.R.C. IPA, and a N.A.R.C hop water. Plus, Resident Culture also carries Cumulo, a sparkling water with CBD/THC in two flavors – tropical punch and mango lime.
Pins Mechanical Co.
307 W Tremont Ave
At Pins Mechanical Co. you can enjoy the games and atmosphere with a cocktail – or mocktail – in hand. Pins offers two zero proof cocktails. Try the Smashing Berries with Lyre’s American malt, blackberry and mint, or the My Little Mule with Lyre’s Dry London, ube, winter citrus and ginger.
Not to mention, for dry January, the Pins team is introducing two low-proof cocktails perfect for those participating in damp January. The low-proof cocktails include the Aperol Smash with pomegranate, rosemary, lemon and rose water, as well as the Shroom Raider with mushroom coffee powder, Chila Rumchata, ancho reyes and chocolate mole bitters.
Elsewhere
101 W Worthington Ave, Suite 140
Elsewhere’s “For the Pilot” menu includes year-round non-alcoholic options. The MidWestern Vibes is a fan favorite, with Spiritless Kentucky 74, muddled orange, muddled cherry, molasses, and Mexican Sprite, or go classic with a phony negroni.
State of Confusion
3500 Dewitt Ln
State of Confusion’s agua frescas are refreshing, non-alcoholic beverages made with real fruits and natural ingredients. Try your favorite flavor from offerings of chicha morada, honey peach, strawberry basil or cherry limeade.
Brewers at 4001 Yancey
4001-A Yancey Rd
The mocktail options at Brewers at 4001 Yancey are plentiful. Select your favorite among the NA Ranch Water, made with cinnamon-orange simple syrup, lime and soda, the Blackberry Mockarita with pineapple, lime, blackberry simple and Sprite, or the Cran-Father with cranberry juice, cran-orange-pom simple syrup, lime and grapefruit soda. For something that tastes like dessert, try the Slice of Pie with apple juice, lemon, apple pie simple syrup and tonic.
STIR Charlotte
1422 S Tryon St, Suite 130
At STIR Charlotte, you don’t have to veer far from the traditional cocktail menu to get a non-alcoholic mocktail. That’s because many of the restaurant’s traditional cocktails can be made without alcohol, ensuring everyone can enjoy. Order an elderflower sour, austin mule, old fashioned or espresso martini, and let the server know you’d prefer your drink virgin.
Folia
1440 S Tryon St # 102
This recently opened South End cocktail bar serves up a full menu of mocktails in addition to signature cocktails. The mocktail menu includes drinks such as the Traffic Signal with raspberry basil syrup, lime, yuzu, and ginger kombucha, and the Blonde Ginger with strawberry syrup, ginger syrup and lemon.
Uptown
The Conspiracy
412 W 5th St, Suite C120
This dark and moody speakeasy in Uptown is the perfect place to grab a mocktail this dry January. Order the Nati on Ice, a non-alcoholic espresso martini with decaf chai. Or, go for the DB Cooler, a light, bubbly mocktail made with house-made honey lemon basil syrup and ginger beer. For something a bit more traditional, Conspiracy offers a non-alcoholic aperol spritz.
Caroline’s Oyster Bar
120 E Brooklyn Vlg Ave
Enjoy a mocktail with your seafood at Caroline’s Oyster Bar this January. For a drink with a little bit of a kick try the Spicy OBX, made with habanero syrup, lime, grapefruit and grapefruit soda. If you’d rather have something refreshing, order the Cool as a Cucumber with simple syrup, lime, cucumber and mint.
Merchant & Trade
303 S Church St
Grab a mocktail while taking in skyline views at Merchant & Trade. Signature zero-proof cocktails include the Endless Vacation, which is a take on an aperol spritz, the Figment, a whiskey inspired mocktail, and the Flowers, Honey, Legal Advice, which is a floral mocktail. Customers can also get classic drinks such as an espresso martini and Italian spritz made without alcohol.
Dean’s Italian Steakhouse
128 E Brooklyn Vlg Ave
No trip to a steakhouse is complete without an elevated cocktail to pair with your meal, and at Dean’s you don’t have to sacrifice just because you’re not drinking alcohol. Mocktail options at Dean’s Italian Steakhouse include the Sage Advise with grapefruit, sage, pineapple and sparkling water, and the Cucumber Cooler with cucumber, lime, vanilla and sparkling water.
Author’s Note: This article was written by Alex Maloney. You can find more of her Charlotte-related content on Instagram, @slicesandsushi.
